Suffolk: Passmore takes up police commissioner role

SUFFOLK’S first police and crime commissioner has formally taken his declaration of office before formally taking on the role at midnight.

Conservative candidate Tim Passmore was elected to the role last Thursday, despite receiving fewer votes than his Labour challenger Jane Basham in the first round of counting.

He won through after second preference votes were added in – and took the declaration of office for the role just hours before formally becoming commissioner at midnight.

The short ceremony at Suffolk police headquarters saw Mr Passmore read out the declaration of office and he then outlined his principles before he was formally welcomed to the new role by chief constable Simon Ash.

Mr Passmore insisted that he would police in the interests of everyone who had voted in Suffolk, not only those who had supported him.

He said: “We have had a very smooth transition to the new organisation, and I am here to work with everyone in the county.

“Suffolk needs to continue to be a wonderful place to live, work and invest in – and I shall be working to try to maintain that.”

Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Passmore said he hope that as he got down to work, his role would become clearer – he has to produce a first draft of the crime reduction strategy by the end of January.

“Hopefully by the time the next elections come around, people will have a clearer understanding of the role and more will feel they should vote.”

Mr Ash welcomed Mr Passmore to the role and said he was looking forward to working with him over the next few years.

He said; “There are considerable challenges ahead, like cutting £7 million from the budget this year coming on top of the £5 million last year.”

But the force had been becoming more efficient and was working closer with Norfolk – resulting in a fall in the level of crime which he hoped would continue over the next few years.